T60 memory issue

[holdemplyr]

my T60 .. just suddenly upon start up.. receives a black screen with this message at top... " Windows NT has found 428K of low memory. 512K of low memory is required to run Windows NT. you may need to upgrade your computer or run a configuration program provided by your manufacturer."

I immediately thought I would just upgrade the memory and problem solved.... took apart, had (2) 256mb chips installed.. so I removed one chip and installed a new 2GB mem chip.... nothing changed... so decided to go bios utility, the machine wa snow recognizing the new memory..so what was my issue.. then figured it may be the HDD, so I ran the diagnostics, it said upon finishing, there was a read error... does this mean, my original problem, is a bad HDD?? can I just get another and install.. will my operating system still work, or is it installed on the HDD?? I am not computer literate, just a weekend user...

any help appreciated, thanks

[GACrabill]

... I immediately thought I would just upgrade the memory and problem solved.... took apart, had (2) 256mb chips installed.. so I removed one chip and installed a new 2GB mem chip.... nothing changed...

Did you try removing both of the 256mb memory sticks, and trying to run with only the 2GB stick ?

If the laptop runs fine with only the new 2GB stick installed, then one of the 256mb sticks is bad.

If the problem continues, try the 2GB memory stick in the other memory slot (and leave the other slot empty). If the laptop works now, then you must have a bad memory slot.

If the laptop doesn't work with only the 2GB stick installed in either slot, then hopefully someone else will respond with other suggestions.

[GACrabill]

Oooops, probably NOT a memory problem.

With a little Google searching, I found that you have a Rootkit infection.

See this post by 'halo_t' :
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ ... try3148439

[holdemplyr]

hmm.. a rootkit problem?? I haven't found that in any search.... my computer wa sfine, then booted up the next day, with the message I described below about not having enough "low memory"... any other ideas.... thanks

[RealBlackStuff]

I think GACrabill hit the nail on the head.
Get TDSS-killer here for free: http://kaspersky-tdsskiller.en.softonic.com/

Also, running any laptop like a T60 nowadays with only 2x256MB memory makes it slower than a snail!
The T60 can take 2x2GB RAM but only 3GB are usable, no point putting in more than necessary.
Replace the 256MB that's left with a 1GB, and with 2+1GB your machine will be as good as possible.
You probably run Windows XP, although the error msg mentioned NT.

[GACrabill]

Get TDSS-killer here for free: http://kaspersky-tdsskiller.en.softonic.com/

I always prefer direct links when possible.
Here's the Kaspersky link that I always use to get the current .exe version of TDSSKiller :
http://support.kaspersky.com/us/viruses/utility

[holdemplyr]

ok guys... im trying... I have downloaded the tdss exe. file to a usb flash drive plugged into a working computer... now how do I get it to run in my laptop.... it will not open in safe mode, only the bios mode, when I direct it too, otherwise immediate into the error message I was referring to earlier...... how do I direct the exe file to run from the usb flash, to get rid of the rootbit?? any help appreciated, thanks

also, I am running Windows NT, does this matter?

[GACrabill]

I have downloaded the tdss exe. file to a usb flash drive plugged into a working computer... now how do I get it to run in my laptop.... it will not open in safe mode, only the bios mode, when I direct it too, otherwise immediate into the error message I was referring to earlier...... how do I direct the exe file to run from the usb flash, to get rid of the rootbit??

From the instructions at the original link that I posted, you now need to have a 'bootable' Operating System (ie. - not an 'installation' CD/DVD).
The preferred choice for Windows folks is often the "Hiren's Boot CD".

1. Download it from here (592MB) : http://www.hirensbootcd.org/files/Hiren ... D.15.2.zip
2. Then unzip the downloaded file and extract the files to a folder.
3. Then start your favorite .iso burning program (ie. imgburn), or the 'BurnCDCC.exe' file within the extracted folder.
4. Point the burning program to the .iso file within the extracted folder.
5. Burn to a blank CD.
6. Boot the infected PC with the CD. (This process does not write to the harddrive)
7. Choose 'mini-XP' in the menu.
8. A mini-XP system will be loaded into memory with a desktop and icons.
9. Insert your USB stick.
10. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the TDSSKiller.exe on the USB stick and run it.
11. TDSSKiller will require a re-boot if it finds and fixes something.
12. The CD can be ejected during the shutdown/reboot, then your NT operating system will hopefully load normally.

If you plan to continue accessing the internet with 'Windows NT' or 'Windows 2000' (or 'Windows XP' in the not-too-distant future), then you should prepare yourself for further virus and malware attacks.

[holdemplyr]

thanks.... i'll give it a try and let you know my findings....

[holdemplyr]

hey guys...
alright followed the instructions you gave to the letter..... trying to boot the CD never happened.... opened the bios menu, selected boot, even moved the drive to the #1 slot in order for it to boot first... no matter how I did it, the original message kept occurring... I would here the drive turning, the disc reading.. then slow down.. and original error message appear.. Windows NT has detected 428k low memory, Windows NT needs 512k low memory to start.. blah blah blah......

is there another way, to boot this CD?

any help appreciated, thanks

[holdemplyr]

in hindsight.... maybe Im not "booting" the CD correctly...... ???

[GACrabill]

in hindsight.... maybe Im not "booting" the CD correctly...... ???

Your change to the BIOS Boot order sounded okay.
More Google research results in lots of different paths that other folks have taken in attempts to fix the same problem.

If the Hiren's Boot CD is bootable in another PC, but not in your PC, that will indicate that it was burned correctly and is indeed bootable.

The following suggestions should be followed with only one memory stick installed ... the new 2GB one. The two 256MB sticks are probably good but we should at least eliminate them for now.

The easiest thing to try next is to have the Hiren's CD in the drive, boot into BIOS Settings, choose "Load Setup Defaults", then make sure that “ATAPI CD0” is first in the boot order, and let it re-boot with the “Exit and Save changes”.

If that doesn't result in the Hiren's CD booting up, then the PC should be powered off, remove the power adapter, remove the battery, remove the harddrive, replace the battery, plug in the power adapter, attempt to boot again. If the CD boots without the harddrive installed, but does not boot when the harddrive is installed, then I would connect the harddrive to a special sata-to-usb adapter cable, connect that assembly to another PC, and use MalwareBytes and an anti-virus product to scan and fix whatever they find. Then you could try the harddrive back in your PC, attempt to boot again with the Hiren's CD, and maybe attempt to run TDSSKiller to make sure that the harddrive is no longer infected (I have not had TDSSKiller work against USB-attached harddrives).

Good luck.

[RealBlackStuff]

Alternatively, try Kaspersky's Rescue CD: http://support.kaspersky.com/4162